We’ve all done it: Come home from a busy day and – needing to get dinner on the table – stared at an empty refrigerator, shut the door, walked away and ordered takeout. And while that’s fine once in a while, planning ahead can help you make healthier choices even during the busiest of weeks.
When it comes to healthy eating, preparation is the key to success. If you do the heavy lifting in advance, you’ll not only eat healthier, but you’ll also save yourself time and money.
From easy breakfast options to methods for whipping up meals in bulk, we’ve put together five tips to set you up for a fuss-free week of delicious meals:
1. Freeze blended smoothies in muffin tins. Healthy, convenient and portable, smoothies are ideal fuel for breakfast, an afternoon snack or dessert. They also make it easy to eat well. Don’t have time to measure out a million fixings for a morning sip? Try buying the ingredients in bulk, blending your favorite beverage, and then freezing the mixture in muffin tips. Next time you need a shake stat, toss two or three “smoothie cups” in a blender for a quick and easy breakfast or snack. Try one of these recipes to keep you sipping Smoothies for Days.
2. Chop or spiralize raw vegetables in advance. Too hangry to make dinner at the end of a long day? Cut veggies in bulk ahead of time to avoid wasting precious minutes chopping on busy weeknights. Store each vegetable in an individual container so when it comes time to cook, all you have to do is grab the ones you want and get to work. They’re also great to have on hand for snacking. Sealed properly in a plastic bag or Tupperware, some veggies can last an entire week! HealthyHabitsHub.com came up with a fantastic reference list to keep you in the know:
3. Roast those veggies. Veggies provide fiber to fill you up, are low in calories, and are chock full of health benefits. Over the weekend, steam, roast, or sauté a large batch of veggies so that they’re ready to use throughout the week. This ensures you have a delicious side every night of the week no matter how busy you are. Plus, veggies can easily bulk up a variety of meals.
4. Season meat three ways using just one pan. If you’re sticking to lean meats like chicken, chowing down on the same flavors all the time can get a little dull. Save time without boring your taste buds by preparing two or three variations of chicken at once, using aluminum foil dividers in your pan. BBQ, lemon, curry — you can have it all. Three birds, one pan. FitMenCook.com will show you how it’s done!
Photo Credit: FitMenCook.com
5. Get on the Mason jar bandwagon. Mason jars are not only pretty, they’re also very practical. They cost about a dollar a piece, are microwave safe (just remember to remove the lid), and can be used for so many different types of meals – breakfast, lunch, dinner, salads and even snacks! And bonus, they’re portable and prevent sogginess, which makes them perfect for prepping a number of meals in advance. Want a quick snack ready to go for the week? Put together Make Ahead Mini Parfaits with Dannon’s Oikos Greek Yogurt. Or Chickpea, Farro and Greens Salad can be mixed and matched to suit your cravings. For more inspiration, we’ve compiled a number of Everything in Jars recipes!
